CHANCES, an addiction services program in Philadelphia, has closed following financial hardship, NPR affiliate WHYY reported May 1.
The program was operated by the nonprofit Public Health Management Corporation. It was initially founded to help women and mothers in treatment for substance use disorders and offered child care services, but later expanded to offer care to men as well as medication-assisted treatment, counseling, behavioral health services, skills training, job support, and a summer camp for kids.
CHANCES decided to change its insurance reimbursement model during the pandemic to a value-based payment, as opposed to its fee-for-service model. The change resulted in significant debt for the program, which was exacerbated by staffing and utilization issues caused by the pandemic.
The program officially closed March 31. At the time it closed, it had 130 participants, most of whom were moved to other outpatient programs in Philadelphia.